Frankel strikes again

Queen Kindly had almost become the forgotten Frankel in the race as all the attention was on Fair Eva but she put in an unforgettable performance on the Knavesmire

By CLAUDE DUVAL

18th August 2016, 3:02 pm

Updated: 18th August 2016, 3:16 pm

RED-HOT favourite Fair Eva could only finish third as Queen Kindly claimed victory in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.

The Roger Charlton-trained Fair Eva had looked every inch a top-class prospect on her racecourse debut at Haydock and after following up with another impressive display in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot, the daughter of Frankel was a prohibitively priced 4-11 market leader in this Group Two contest.

Queen Kindly - another daughter of the mighty Frankel and out of 2009 Lowther-winning mare Lady Of The Desert - had won two of her three previous starts for Richard Fahey, both at Catterick, and was a creditable third in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in between.

Queen Kindly and Jamie Spencer (right) hold off a classy field of challengers

Fair Eva came with her effort on the wide outside, while Queen Kindly had to be brave go between horses to mount her challenge.

Aidan O'Brien's Duchess of Cambridge Stakes winner Roly Poly was also in with a chance as the big trio headed inside the final furlong almost in a line, but it was Queen Kindly who saw it out best to beat the Irish raider by three-quarters of a length, with Fair Eva the same distance away in third.

Spencer said: "The odds never reflected her chances.

"She ran at Ascot and Seamie (Heffernan) rode a very clever race on the winner (Brave Anna). When I was coming with my run, I had to wait for him to go and she couldn't get to grips on the soft ground.

"Every time you ride her she gets chunkier and more powerful and she never missed a beat today.

"She was running away in behind. I was worried what I was going to say to Jaber (Abdullah, owner) two furlongs out when I couldn't get a run, because he told me not to get boxed in.

"Anyway, we got out and she was gutsy and tenacious.

"She's very professional and at this stage of her career, she's probably ahead of the rest of them.

"She's a gorgeous filly and Richard fancied her. He said 'don't worry about the other Frankel (filly, Fair Eva), we know what we've got."

The Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 24 appears the likely next port of call, but Fahey admitted to having doubts about whether she will ultimately stay a mile as bookies slashed her for the Guineas.

Fahey said: "She didn't have a good experience at Ascot, so we were quite happy to drop her back in grade (at Catterick). It was more a working canter for us and it's done her no harm today.

"It was easy on the eye to watch there. It just looked a bit tight about a furlong and a half out, but once the gap opened I knew she'd pick up.

"I kept an eye on the other filly (Fair Eva), but half a furlong out I thought it was ours.

"Physically she's getting stronger. Her best bit of work was last week, which is always good when you're coming into a race like this.

"From day one she has been very easy to train - a strong filly, great mind and doing everything right with loads of speed.

"I've got to speak to the whole team. The Cheveley Park is the obvious plan.

"I'd just be a bit worried she might not be a Guineas filly. We'll have to see."

Coolmore representative Kevin Buckley said of Roly Poly: "We're very pleased with her, she got the ground she likes again.

"We have to be happy as we were conceding 3lb to the winner.

"Seamus (Heffernan) was very complimentary, it looks like she's been beaten by a good one.

"I don't know the plans but we'll be searching for that ground again."

Charlton said of the beaten favourite: "I've got no excuses. Pat said she ran flat.

"She was never going that well at any stage, she got a bit warm beforehand but nothing too bad.

"They've run a quick time and were five lengths clear, but we don't have an answer.

"We'll reassess before making any plans."

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